Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Dodgers Trade Adds Three More Prospects

Adding to the collection of platinum prospects to the Dodger horde just never ends. This morning news spread quickly that a three-team trade had been finalized between the Dodgers, Reds and White Sox. The Dodgers received three players with plenty of gloss, while shipping off three others who didn't fit into their plans. Via a Dodger press release:

The Dodgers today announced the completion of a three-team trade with
the Reds and White Sox, with the Dodgers receiving right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas, outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson; the Reds receiving Jose Peraza, outfielder Scott Schebler and
minor league infielder Brandon Dixon; and the White Sox receiving third
baseman Todd Frazier.

Obviously, the big name here is Reds infielder Todd Frazier. He becomes a White Sox. For the Dodgers, they essentially traded three prospect for three other prospects they liked better. The key player in this package for us is fireball right-hander Frankie Montas. Via Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs:

Montas has steadily improved, with his average slider taking a big step forward this year to now flashing plus, his changeup is now enough to give him a starter’s repertoire and he still hits 100 mph at times. The question is whether his delivery and command fit as a starter and most think he ends up as a closer, but there’s still a chance he figures out a way to fit as a mid-rotation starter.

Below is more background on the new Dodger players via a press release:

Johnson, 24, appeared in 36 big league games with the White Sox last
year after making the club’s Opening Day roster and has a .301 career
batting average with 153 stolen bases, 24 home runs and 163 RBI in 385
minor league games in four minor league seasons. He entered the 2015
seasons rated as the White Sox’s No. 4 prospect by Baseball America and
combined to hit .316 with 28 steals, eight home runs and 36 RBI in 83
minor league games last year with Triple-A Charlotte and the
Rookie-level AZL White Sox. During the course of his professional
career, Johnson has exclusively appeared at second base following his
selection in the ninth round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of
the University of Indiana.

Montas, 22, appeared in seven games (two starts) with Chicago last year,
going 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA, and has posted a 16-25 record with a 3.86
ERA in 92 games (80 starts) in six minor league seasons in the White Sox
organization. Montas has limited opponents to a .232 batting average
during the course of his minor league career, while averaging more than a
strikeout per inning with 390 strikeouts in 382.2 innings. He entered
the 2015 season rated as the White Sox’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball
America and was honored as a Double-A Southern League All-Star last
season, registering a 5-5 record with a 2.97 ERA, a .219 opponents’
batting average and 108 strikeouts in 23 starts with Birmingham. Montas
was originally signed by the Red Sox on Dec. 14, 2009 as an amateur free
agent out of the Dominican Republic.

Thompson, 24, saw his first big league action last season with the White
Sox, batting .295 with five home runs and 16 RBI in 44 games. Thompson,
who attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa
Margarita, has been selected as an All-Star at nearly every level during
his seven-year minor league career, being honored as a 2011 Single-A
South Atlantic League All-Star, a 2013 and 2014 Double-A Southern League
All-Star and a 2015 Triple-A International League All-Star, while
batting a combined .241 with 94 steals, 101 home runs and 395 RBI in 734
games. The son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson and brother of
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson was originally selected by the
White Sox in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Pinterest

Supporters

Blue Heaven In The News

“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey. There’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else. I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.” -- A.J. Ellis